Fzr Hybrids

[Riley]

Hello all, this is the first time I've posted in this section, I've been reading about the the 400/600 hybrid bikes and it all seems far to tempting. I am coming to the end of my nc30 project bike, I've got a Steyr Puch Haflinger trials vehicle to build up next, but I am very tempted to build another bike in the future and the hybrid seems to be a serious contender. I had been looking into the Mito350 conversion but the cost involved to achieve a bike up to an acceptable standard is actually an awful lot of money and to be honest I can't justify it (custom pipes, fitting kit, sought after engine, complete new front end, etc).
I'm no stranger to fannying about with bikes, and before I bought my 1st 400 about 8 years ago I had considered the Fzr but to be honest I was lured to the Nc30 by the single sided swingarm, so that put an end to that. I have ridden allsorts of machines over the years but never the Fzr400 (Fzr1000, yes but that's a whole different kettle of fish). My real question I suppose is with the hybrid bikes do they still handle as well as the standard machines with the 400 engines? Also what is deemed by you in the know as being the favoured modifications to the Fzr? And most importantly what is deemed as being the best basis for the 400/600 hybrid machines? Sorry for all the questions, but I love the idea of a wolf in sheeps clothing, my Nc30 project bike despite running Rvf carbs, larger airbox and race exhaust system will never be able to match the performance of a 600 engine (or dare I say it even an Fzr400 engine? As I appreciate that the Fzr400 engine has larger scope for modification than the Honda lump in terms of £'s to performance).
Here's my Nc, but I'd like to see it have a friend in the workshop!

[White2505]

Nice bike.

I'll leave others to comment on the best mods for the FZR engine.
A trawl through the recent threads will give you a flavour of what FZR owners view
as to the pro's and con's of ownership. Personally I like having something that's a bit different from the norm.

Most of the posts regarding hybrids built on the 3tj chassis/frame all seem to suggest
the handling remains largely unaffected as the 600cc thundercat engine as it is
basically a 20mm taller version of the 400 fitted to the 3tj already.

I would love to hybrid mine but time and money prevent me doing so at the moment.
definately on my to do list though.

I'm sure a couple of the hybrid owners will be along shortly to extoll their virtues further :)

[Evilchicken0]

It's probably better to start with a FZR400RR 3TJ they have a strong frame and handle very well ... the geometry was taken from the YZR500 racers of the day. You also have a 160 profile 17" rear allowing a lot of the new tyres.

If you want a project bike relativly cheaply then you can mod the suspension with a late R6 shock and extension piece (about £100) and some new fork springs and oil (£80). Brakes are good with HH pads, braided lines and a better master cylinder - a radial brembo needs a bit jiggling, it touches the sun sheild on the idot lights (cut it back) and the fouls the trottle against the bar end (pack the bar end out). The standard 400 engine is strong and reliable but check the valve clearances. Check the 400 down pipes are good and the exup works.

The simplest way to do the hybrid is get a 600 bike so you know it all works and runs. you need the engine, carbs, down pipes, CDI and loom. We usually use the FZR600R Foxeye they're cheaper than a Thundercat.

[Riley]

Lovely, thanks for the replies so far. So a 3tj is the way forward mated to a foxeye engine. I have in the past taken my time to accumulate parts over a relatively long period of time in order to get the right parts for the right price (my nc30 has a ducati 996 front end and I only paid £130 for my gold nitrate forks from a 6000 mile machine). I don't like to scimp on parts - I just don't like to pay over the odds. I have no idea of values of Fzr parts so I will more than likely be scouring flea bay for the next few months to get an idea of values. I would ideally like a clean machine with nice standard bodywork, I already have a tarts handbag of a bike and appreciate that cosmetics are one of the most costly aspects of a machine. I would like to have a machine that essentially looks standard but with uprated suspension, brakes and the 600 lump. What is a reasonable amount to pay for a nice 3tj? R6 shocks should be plentiful, when you say extension piece do you mean the triangular linkage, dogbones or is there a "U" shaped top mount and threaded bar arrangement (the Rvf uses this type of linkage at the top of the shock)? Sorry about all the questions and thankyou for your help.

[Evilchicken0]

The 3TJ has a long shock and I think the R6 shock comes up about 50mm short. Oolitt on this forum makes up a spacer piece so the shorter shock can be used. The standard spring is to hard though so as your a bit of a perfectionist (I've seen your work) you'll probably want that done.

Have a look through the FZR forum and you'll see there's other front ends that can be dropped in too.
As you want a good example TJ you can spend from £800-£1000 depending on time of year. There's another version the 4DX which is the official import, more or less the same but there's no speed restriction and the rear light isn't as pretty (IMHO)
3TJ's come in a standard colour scheme of White / dark met Red or Black / Graphite
The SP has better suspension etc as standard ... but these are getting rarer and would best be kept standard rather than hybrid.

[fzrtim]

When i started my hybrid i wasn't sure on what i was taking on so i only bought the frame to accept the engine. The engine cost £67 on ebay which easily was acomodated with the manufacture of some brackets. Next came the ecu which only cost £30 shortly followed by some carbs at £30 then some downpipes also at £ 30. So if i had a rolling chassis the conversion would have only cost £157. Bugger......

[Riley]

The standard spring is to hard though so as your a bit of a perfectionist (I've seen your work) you'll probably want that done.

I am not exactly petite - I'm 6'1" and about 14.5 stone in my riding kit so you never know I might be alright!

I've been looking on flea bay and the cost of most of parts seem very reasonable - it's a bit of a shock coming from the Hondas, I shouldn't complain because I've started breaking Rvfs, infact that will be financing the build with any luck (along with my forth coming wedding).

[Evilchicken0]

Yes - honda stuff is hugley overpriced but people pay it thinking the product is better

[plodder]

Back off the high speed compression and it will be OK except for very bumpy roads

[Riley]

I've been looking about (early days yet), I've found a couple of nice foxeyes for about £1000, and a streetfightered 3tj for not alot of money locally. The problem with the streetfightered bike is the lack of bodywork but the plus point is I get a cheap rolling chassis with a motor/carbs/etc I can sell on. Would it be better to buy a complete foxeye and the sell off the parts or as a rolling chassis or is it a better idea to just buy the parts I need? The advantage of the complete bike is that the parts are all there and working with one another. It's just a matter of initial outlay I suppose. Any idea of the cost/availability of complete standard fairings? Ta.